Booster for air brake systems



1953 c. D. DYER I 2,648,489

BOOSTER FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 3, 1951 IN VEN TOR air/744.433. firm? Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOSTER FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Charles D. Dyer, Chlcopee, Mass. Application August 3, 1951, Serial N 0. 240,248

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an inertia-operated booster device for compressed air-operated vehicle brake systems and the like, involving a compressor, an automatic pressure regulator for cutting the compressor on and 01T, and a compressed air storage tank, the primary object of the invention being to provide an inertia-operated booster device adapted to be connected with the storage tank and serving to prevent or reduce loss of pressure from the tank when the brakes are operated during an off cycle of the compressor and serving to restore with outside air any air lost from the tank under such condition, the action of the device being dependent upon changes in position of a piston within a cylinder produced by acceleration and deceleration of such a vehicle and modified by changes in pressure within the tank which attend appli cations of and release of the brakes or other compressed air utilization means in both the off and on cycles of the compressor, wherein the pressure within the tank may fall below and rise above the operating setting of the regulator.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above in which a heavy, freely movable inertia piston is employed whose movements in the cylinder are varied as to speed and amplitude by the resistance to movement inherent in the inertia of the piston itself, by the momentum of the piston gained in movement thereof and by the speed, frequency and amount of accelerations and decelerations and of the variations in air pressure within the tank as produced by varying applications of and releasings of the brakes and the accompanying responses of the regulator and compressor thereto, an over-all desirable effect of the device being to level off the peaks and valleys in the tank pressure which occur under the conditions mentioned as a result of lag in the controlled operation of the compressor in response to pressure changes in the system by the regulator as varying demands are imposed upon the system.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a highly simplified and effective device of the character indicated above and one which includes dash-pot means for preventing hammering of the piston at opposite ends of its strokes.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a contracted side elevation;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken through the device; and

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sections taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring in' detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral I generally designates the compressed air storage tank of such as a vehicle compressed air brake system (not shown), the tank 1 being supported on a vehicle frame 6. The tank I has a single compressed air intake pipe 8, preferably entering the tank at a point midway its ends. Supported in suitable manner in the region of the tank I, as by brackets 9 rising from the top of the tank at opposite sides of the vertical intake pipe 8, is the illus trated booster device, generally designated I 0.

The booster device In comprises a preferably horizontally elongated, uniform-diameter cylinder II having lateral flanges I2 on its opposite ends. The ends of the cylinder receive therein enlarged-diameter terminals I3 on the axially inward ends of axial sleeve bearings I4, the terminals I3 having lateral flanges I5 spaced from and facing the flanges I2, whereby annular channels I6 are formed which are packed with annular packings H, the bearings being assembled to the cylinder and the packings being placed under sealing pressure by means of bolts I8 traversing the opposed flanges and the related packings.

The sleeve bearings I4 have axial bores I9 which open through the axially outward ends of the bearings, as indicated at 20, the outer ends of the bores being closed by closure plates 2! secured removably in place by means of studs 22 traversing the plates and threaded into the bearing ends. Near to, but spaced from, the axial outward ends of the bearings I4, these bearings are formed with relatively long, radial, longitudinal slots 23 which open through 0pp0- site sides of the bearings and provide relatively unrestricted communication between the bearing bores I9 and the outside atmosphere.

A smooth piston rod 24, shorter than the distance between the closure plates 2|, but preferably longer than the distance between the ports 23, is slidably positioned in the sleeve bearing bores I9 and extends through the bore 25 of the cylinder I! in relatively greatly concentrically spaced relation thereto. Fixed at the middle of r the piston rod 24 by nuts 26 threaded thereon against its oppoi-ste ends is the piston 21, which includes flexible pressure sealing cups 28 on its opposite ends. The piston 21 has preferably a length greater than its diameter and is prefer- 4 the air pressure in the tank 1 was increased and outside air placed in the cylinder for compression therein and transmission to the tank I on the next leftwards movement of the piston 21.

ably made of lead or like heavy material, so as 5 Suppose that the right-hand end of the cylto be very heavy and possess very substantial reinder I I faced in the forward direction of travel sistance to movement due to its inherent inertia, of a vehicle upon which the booster device was and to possess substantial momentum as a result mounted, rapid acceleration of the vehicle, as of being moved in the cylinder II in either diin a start made from a standstill or a substantial rection. increase in .forward speedwould cause .the cyl- A part of the side wall 29 of the cylinder'i l, inderil to'move forwardly or toward the right such as the under part thereof, is formed with relative to the piston 21, due to the inertia of two ports 30 and 3|, respectively, which are 10- thepiston, thereby in effect producing leftwards cated near to, but spaced from, theendsaofothew: movementiofrtheipiston in the cylinder I I. This cylinder. These ports have connected thereto would produce compression of the air trapped one end of branch pipes 32 and spe t vely? behind-the -piston 21 and transmission of the whose opposite ends are connecteditoiaimain resultantccompressed air to the tank 1 via the p p 3 par ll ling th cy inder l I, th main pip left-hand port 30, 'branch pipe 33, left-hand dis- 33 being Connected p ef rably at ts mid-point charge va'lv'e 40, and tank intake pipe 8. At the to the tank intake pipe 8. L. same time outside air would be drawn into the The main pipe 33 terminates: atiitsz'opposite forwarctmr right-handzendaof ther-cylinder-il n i l rwnw r lyndire edxonen behindithe'iTealwardly.;;traveling:1111513011,;Vla..th8. terminals 34:an-d 35,-1whichxhave: :intake-wcom-L rightehandarairrintake' 35; the main-pipe'33; the; munication withrthe. outside air..and;,are: 1zo+:: i ht-handprxintake:rvalve:- 38,-.,the right-,hand, tectively covered by screens 36. branclr pipei Band-port. 3|, :with .the.f0rward. Locatedin the main p p 3 b w en "the leftor u irightehandupressure; discharge, valve 4 It in hand air intake 34and the left-'handbranchpipea' closed zposition; 32;.and between the right-hand air intake ;35:-and Itiis ltli uszrseen thatr' varying degrees; of act e i ta 'pip 3 2G e a V celerationuand deceleration of a vehicle or, thew 31-and38krespectively; These valves -involve-likezuponpwhichi the: device was mounted would produce: varying speeds and amplitudes of mo: tiorr-of thelpiston 2'I:inopposite directions, which are 'modifi'ed by. the ratio between.- the -mass--ofthe-piston :21 "and: the acceleration and decelera-v "tion Ofith'B' vehicle. :.As-.a result,- the booster de.-;-- Woe is responsive-tormaintain and restore :the r mediairair pressure level :in lth. compressed-air storage tank -'I as required-by light; mediumrfand .1: heavy," and frequentand infrequent'brake ap "plications and"thereby overcome the depleted pressure" conditions in the storage" tank -1 which accompany road driving conditions'because of the inability; of the pressure regulator of' the sys'- ,temi-nto .respondwith Isufiic'ient flexibility and speed-and the. inability of the compressor to adequately-.respondto the functioning .of the regulator, to :keep :;the storage, tank pressure at the: desiredlevels- What ":is claimed 1. "In combi'nationy a vehicle'committed to re-' curringacceleration and decelerations in forward '1 movement thereof, a storagei tankcof; a ;com-r. pressed air operated system :mounted uponssaid: i vehicle, -'a main' pipe te'rrninatinge atiiits' 'ends: air intakes-open to the: outside air," an :air: iniet'."' pipe 4 leading from an intermediate part of: said-c main air pipe and connected withthe: storagein tank, a "cylinder mounted *on and :positioned 1'1 lengthwise inthe direction of fnovement of the 1 vehicle; said cylinder having closed ends; a piston rod'extending through said cylinder and: slidably engagingsaidends', a sealed piston-fixed onsa-id piston rod and workingin said cylinder between a theends'of the cylinder, said piston'being ofsufficientweight' to resist following movement in the'cylinder'when the cylinder is moved relative to thepiston as' the-vehicle isaccelei'atedor-decelerated; said cylinder having ports adjacent to its opposite ends, said ports being separatelyconnectedto said main pipe at longitudinal spaced points between the ends of -said ""main pipe, normally closed suction operated valves '10 cated in'saidmain pipe between itsflopen ends and said ports, and normally closedpressure dis preferably hinged-flaps 39; are. normally-,closed-,-v, and are operated to open positiononly by intakeo suctionxexerted"through the main P1136133.

Locatediin the mainpipe 33 between 1the1left-- I hand branch pipe 621 and the tankintakexpipef 8, r and between theright-handr branch pipe=32 t and thetank -intake .pipe Bgarecompressed airrdis-wcharge'xcheck valves's ill'iandi ME respectively; These valvesuare normally ClOSBd 'ifiIldl-iIfl/ONG preferably hinged flaps 42 which are 'operated toiuo open position only "by pressureat the axially out? ward sides of the valves and- M;

The pistonll'" is prevented from traveling inm either=-direction in the: cylinder H beyond their: approach sides of the ports 'ilii and 3h ThisiiSl if, accomplished by" predetermining =th'e length'z'of-i: the piston rod 24 and providing the' pistonirod: with hemispherical ends 43 -whi'ch ar-e arrangedr: to enter-the dash-pots defined by the iend'sazof-t the'bearing bores l9 and the closure platese 2h after passing along the slots 23', so that-outside"? air is compressed in -th'e' dash-pots sufficiently! to slow down and stop thetr'avel of the piston at the desired point while precluding a hammeringeffect which might otherwise occurfespecially 5 whenoperating conditions of the brake system-ow the like are such as to produce frequent and forceful reciprocations-of the piston:

Inoperation, suppose that the piston zi? has been operated to the right-hand position shown 0 in Figure 2, such movement from a leftwardsR-t position produced opening of the right-hand pressure-discharge valve 4i so that=thepressurein 'the'right-hand end of the cylinder :1 l ahead;- of the piston was transmitted thr0ugh the port-5* 3|, branch pipe32i'; the mainpipe'33, and='tankintake pipe'8 into the tank I. At the same :time; left -hand air intake'valve 31" was :Qpenedbysuc: tion in? the left-hand end'ofthe cylinder 1' 1 ,pro.-. duced'behind the piston 21' so that outside airh-m was drawn through the left-hand screened intake terminal 34,:through the main pipe'33; the lefthand branch pipe -32;-and the left-hand port-ill),- into: the--cylinder- -l l behind the -pistoni21 in' .a relativelyiuncompressed conditione I -t w y charge valves located in said main pipe between said ports and said tank air inlet pipe.

2. In a pressure booster for the compressed air storage tank of a compressed air-operated system mounted upon a vehicle committed to recurring accelerations and decelerations in forward movement thereof, a main pipe terminating at its ends in air intakes open to the outside air, an air inlet pipe leading from an intermediate part of said main air pipe and connectible with the storage tank, a cylinder adapted to be mounted on and positioned lengthwise in the direction of movement of the vehicle, said cylinder having closed ends, a piston rod extending through said cylinder and slidably engaging said ends, a sealed piston fixed on said piston rod and Working in said cylinder between the ends of the cylinder, said piston being of sufficient weight to resist following movement in the cylinder when the cylinder is moved relative to the piston as the vehicle is accelerated or decelerated, said cylinder having ports adjacent to its opposite ends, said ports being separately connected to said main pipe at longitudinal spaced points between the ends of said main pipe, normally closed suction-operated valves located in said main pipe between its open ends and said ports, and normally closed pressure discharge valves located in said main pipe between said ports and said tank air inlet pipe, said cylinder having means thereon acting upon portions of said piston rod outside of said cylinder serving to limit movement of said piston in said cylinder in opposite directions to points at the approach sides of said ports whereby occlusion of the ports by the piston is precluded.

3. In a pressure booster for the compressed air storage tank of a compressed air-operated system mounted upon a vehicle committed to recurring accelerations and declerations in forward movement thereof, a main pipe terminating at its ends in air intakes open to the outside air, an air inlet pipe leading from an intermediate part of said main air pipe and adapted to be connected with the storage tank, a cylinder adapted to be mounted on and positioned lengthwise in the direction of movement of the vehicle, said cylinder having closed ends, a piston rod extending through said cylinder and slidably extending through said ends, a weighted piston fixed on said piston rod and working in said cylinder between the ends of the cylinder, said piston being of sufiicient weight to resist following movement in the cylinder when the cylinder is moved relative to the piston as the vehicle is accelerated or decelerated, said cylinder having ports adjacent to its opposite ends, said ports being separately connected to said main pipe at longitudinal spaced points between the ends of said main pipe, normally closed suction-operated valves located in said main pipe between its open ends and said ports, and normally closed pressure discharge valves located in said main pipe between said ports and said tank air inlet pipe, sleeve bearings on the cylinder ends having bores receiving the ends of said piston rod outside of said cylinder, means closing the axially outward ends of the sleeve bores and forming dash-pots at the axially outward ends of the bores into which the related ends of the piston rod are adapted to move whereby movements of the piston in the cylinder in opposite directions are decelerated and stopped with the piston at the approach sides of the ports and hammering of the piston in the cylinder is precluded.

CHARLES D. DYER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 393,862 Silvester Dec. 4, 1888 1,0383% Jackson Sept. 10, 1912 1,247,835 Holden Nov. 27, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 295,800 Italy Apr. 30, 1932 

